TMI Tuesday: At The Movies (attempt #2)

I've been meaning to get back to writing here regularly for some time. And so, because I have some spare time today, and have actual computer access rather than smartphone-only access on a tiny screen, here's a new post. We'll start with something simple: TMI Tuesday. Don't worry, there will be more naughty fantasies and stories to come.

At The Movies

1. Why do you go to the movies?
a. To feel
b. To think
c. To escape
d. To enjoy the air conditioning

A, B, and C. Also, to enjoy the immense screen size and the enveloping atmosphere. Also to enjoy the group aspect of the film ("Snakes on a Plane" wouldn't have been interesting at all without the rowdy midnight crowd who'd come out to howl with laughter, and it's just no fun seeing the end of an era like "Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith" without seeing it with a huge crowd of SW fanatics....and so on).

Besides, my home theater is already a damn good approximation of your local cineplex. (I've sunk almost $10,000 into building an awesome system; HT fanatics, email me or leave a comment here if you're curious about my system specs). Most of my watching is done at home, but there are times when you want to see it on the big screen, as I said.

2. In the last six months, have you viewed more movies at home or at the movie theatre?

At home, definitely. See above remark re: my own home theater.

3. What was the last movie you watched at home? At the theatre?

Last one at home was the new Blu-Ray release of "Das Boot" (which looks and sounds out-freakin'-standing in high def). Last one at the theater was the latest "Pirates of the Caribbean" release, "POTC: On Stranger Tides". Ian McShane as Blackbeard alone makes that movie worth seeing. I do rather wish they would end the series before it starts going downhill, though. I've enjoyed all four so far, and that's rare.

4. Which do you enjoy most in a movie?
a. Two beings battling to death such as Godzilla and Mothra (or any foe), Gladiator
b. Car chase scene such as Ronin, Fast & the Furious
c. Major heist such as Italian Job, Ocean’s Eleven, Snatch
d. Epic battle scene such as Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings: Two Towers

I like all of these, but they have to be done well (as in the examples listed). What I enjoy MOST in a movie, though, is not good sound (although that's important), or good music (although that's nearly essential), or good cinematography (nearly the most important), or even a good plot/story (second most important). The thing that can save a movie that doesn't have any of the others is really, really good acting -- characters that you really care about, brought to life by someone who is genuinely good at what they do. Conversely, all the explosions or heists or car chases or battle scenes can't save a film with horrid acting all the way through -- although they can still make it entertaining, it can't be a great movie without good performances.

I'll give an example. Jim Jarmusch's cult film "Night on  Earth" has a low budget, quirky music, a dingy, dirty feel to the cinematography, and a weird premise: a night spent with five taxi drivers from five cities across the world. There's no real action to speak of, no explosions, no big-budget CGI. But the acting is so damn good from the participants involved that it's become one of my favorite films. From the few big names in the first couple segments, to the foreign actors who are not well know, every one of them makes you care about their stories and their lives. Great stuff. 

5. In your opinion, which movie(s) have the best or most enjoyable sex scenes?

I'm presuming that, rather than use porn films as the examples, we should be discussing more commercially viable films. My picks, then, in no particular order, except the first one, which is still my favorite:

1. "The Thomas Crown Affair" (the remake, with Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo): The chemistry between the two is amazing and the sex scene with them is screen-melting hot. My only wish is that it were longer. I have never been able to watch this with a partner without jumping her partway through that scene.
2. "Basic Instinct". The tension and danger and pulse-pounding uncertainty of many of the scenes in this one is what makes them hot. The scene with Douglas and Tripplehorn (tearing her clothes, fucking her bent over the sofa) is one of the hottest I've ever seen.
3. "Desert Hearts", a lesbian drama, has a lovely, tender and very emotional scene between the two female leads.
4. "Watchmen" has a short, but very enjoyable scene between Dan Dreiberg (Nite Owl) and Laurie Juspeczyk (Silk Spectre). Also has Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" for a great soundtrack.
5. The Rebecca De Mornay pic "And God Created Woman" has some amazingly hot scenes.
6. Linda Fiorentino is nuclear hot in "The Last Seduction" as a femme fatale who does things like fuck her victims in an alleyway.
7. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are damned hot in "Mr. and Mrs. Smith", fucking each other amidst the wreckage of their house after they've been trying to kill each other.

6. Which of these is your favorite Hollywood movie plot?
a. Boy meets girl
b. The Jesus Story (apocalyptic; someone is saving the world)
c. Fish out of Water
d. Buddy movie

None of these, really. If we're talking pure Hollywood films, my favorite plot is "Stuff blows up real good", which could fit lots of different movies, e.g., "Top Gun", "Independence Day", "2012", "Transformers", "Terminator 2", and lots more.

7. What is your favorite movie genre? (Thriller, comedy, action/adventure, drama, mystery, fright, etc.)

My favorite genre is probably action/adventure, with science fiction/fantasy close behind that.

8. In movies, what makes you cry?
a. mistreatment of a prime, likeable character
b. gushy, mushy romance (e.g., marriage proposals, couple finally proclaim their love)
c. very scary jump-out-at-you, make-you-pee-your-pants scenes
d. anyone or anything dying

Emotionally charged moments in general get me choked up. Theoden's speech to the Rohirrim before they charge at the Battle of Pelennor Fields, in "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King". Amelie Poulain's emotional breakdown near the end of  "Amelie". The "Order 66" slaughter of Jedi in "Revenge of the Sith". The "Our Town" flashback sequence in "Cars", or the fire-pit sequence of "Toy Story 3". Scrooge's change of heart at the end of "A Christmas Carol". The "Once upon a dream" sequence of "Sleeping Beauty". Damn near half the film "The Princess Bride". And so on.

Bonus: What is your favorite movie? Why?

I could never pick a single favorite. Several of the ones  I've already listed, plus many more. "Gladiator", "Tron: Legacy", "Pitch Black" and its sequel "The Chronicles of Riddick", the Lord of the Rings films, the Star Wars movies. "Pulp Fiction". "Sin City". "Casino Royale" and "Goldfinger" in the James Bond series. "Shoot 'Em Up" and "Sexy Beast" and "Grosse Pointe Blank" for cult films. Most of Pixar's catalogue. Most of Disney's animated catalogue. "Saving Private Ryan". The "Matrix" trilogy. "Gattaca". "Dark City". The "Bourne" trilogy. I'll stop before this gets too long.

————
How to play TMI Tuesday: Copy the above TMI Tuesday questions to your webspace (i.e., a blog). Answer the questions there, then leave a comment below, on this blog post, so we’ll all know where to read your responses. Please don’t forget to link to tmituesdayblog from your website!

Happy TMI Tuesday!